Remarks by United States Ambassador Michael E. Ranneberger Reception in Honor of International Women’s Day

March 8, 2010

Thank you all for being here this evening to help celebrate International Women’s Day.  The importance of the role of a woman and mother is highlighted in the Kiswahili proverb: Asiyefunzwa na mamaye ufunzwa na ulimwengu (If you do not follow your mother’s teachings, the world will take over).

I am delighted to have by my side this evening my daughter Elizabeth, who is rapidly – too rapidly – growing into an impressive young woman of many talents and accomplishments.  She continues to be a big source of support, and a wonderful gift that I cherish.

International Women’s Day is an opportunity to recognize that prosperity and democracy require the active participation of women in all aspects of society, politics, and the economy, and to acknowledge the vital contribution of women to international peace and security.  On International Women’s Day we consider the accomplishments and achievements of outstanding women all over the world, but also identify how we can all do more to empower women.

In a recent article in the New York Times Magazine entitled “Why Women’s Rights Are the Cause of Our Time,” two well-known journalists commented that “the injustices that women in poor countries suffer are of paramount importance (but) in an economic and geopolitical sense the opportunity they represent is even greater.”  They go on to state that “the world is awakening to a powerful truth:  women and girls aren’t the problem; they’re the solution.”  President Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have recognized this by indicating that the cause of women’s empowerment is now a foreign policy priority for the United States.  President Obama has appointed a White House Council on Women and Girls, and Secretary Clinton established a new Office of Global Women’s Issues.  Secretary Clinton has eloquently stated that “I believe that the transformation of women’s roles is the last great impediment to universal progress.”

I want to emphasize that the United States is strongly committed to promoting the rights of Kenyan women and their increased participation in all aspects of social, political, and economic life. This is a highly important dimension of the strong and growing partnership between the U.S. and Kenya.

Celebration of International Women’s Day this year almost coincides with the second anniversary of the agreement to form the coalition government following the worst crisis in Kenya’s history.  Women were instrumental in the efforts to bring about the coalition government, from the negotiators themselves to the women leaders in civil society, business, religious groups, and the media that pressed for a political solution.  Groups like Vital Voices, Women for Peace and Justice, and the Federation of Women Lawyers, just to name a few, were at the forefront of calming tensions and helping achieve an equitable solution. Countless women played a similar role in thousands of communities and households across the country.  

I would like to highlight the important work of one women’s group to promote peace and reconciliation. The Rural Women Peace Link, located near Eldoret in Burnt Forest — a place savaged in the post-election violence — with USAID support ran community dialogues in the wake of the violence. The Rural Women Peace Link also carried out a project, with USAID support, to rebuild the Burnt Forest market, a vital central marketplace that was wrecked during the violence. Today, with more than 60 stalls, and space for children, the new market is serving as a commercial center, and as a means to promote inter-ethnic cooperation and dialogue.

I congratulate Rural Women Peace Link and all the other women who are working tirelessly to rebuild and reunite communities since the horrific spate of violence two years ago. You are playing a crucial role to energize Kenya’s democratic spirit. Your country owes you an immense debt of gratitude.     

I want to urge all of you to play leadership roles in mobilizing women across the country to push for peaceful change.  As we reflect upon the situation in Kenya today, it is important to acknowledge that significant progress has been made in implementing the reform agenda.  Electoral reform is being carried out, the constitutional review process is nearly concluded, and police reform has begun. However, in other key areas there has been little or no progress:  no action against pervasive corruption, no one has been held accountable for post-election violence, there has been no judicial reform or reform of the Attorney General’s office, and not nearly enough has been done to foster national reconciliation and cohesion.  Decisive action in these areas is essential to bring down the culture of impunity which has dominated Kenya and which was in large measure responsible for the crisis.  I also want to emphasize that the rights of women must be guaranteed in any Constitution worthy of this great nation. 

There is a Swahili saying that “Mwanamke ni ngao,” (a woman is the pillar of the community).  We honor the work all of you do in government, in business, in civil society and just within your own families, but I challenge you to do even more.  Elected office and business acumen are meaningless in a world where you keep your mouths and purses and hearts closed to the needs of the society and its citizens.  Speak out to counter the customs, the old school politics, and outright discrimination and abuse that continue to constrain women from playing their full roles in the political, social, and economic life of the country.

Let the voices of women be heard from every region and corner of this country, from every ethnic and social group, to demand fundamental change through full implementation of the reform agenda.  Women of Kenya, make your power felt!  The time is now! Drive the process of change in order to transform this country!

Recognizing Defenders of Human Rights and Peace

Kenya has no shortage of outstanding women leaders to maintain pressure for implementation of the reform agenda. The increasing activism of women and the tremendous energy and talent of the women assembled here give me great hope for Kenya’s future.  In fact here in this room are so many distinguished women that we cannot possibly recognize each of you and all of your contributions. But I would like to take a moment to acknowledge just a few Kenyan women who are playing exceptional roles in promoting human rights and peace and will serve as role models for future generations. 

• I am pleased to announce this evening that Anne Njogu, Executive Director of the Centre for Rights Education and Awareness (CREAW), was chosen this year for the Secretary of State’s Women of Peace Award. Ann is currently in the United States to accept the award.  As we all know, Ann has been on the frontlines in the fight against corruption, the push for gender equality, and the battle for constitutional reform. She was also instrumental in the passage of the Sexual Offences Act.
• Caroline Ruto, Director of Smart Citizens, is a young activist from Rift Valley who is spearheading the promotion of reconciliation and dialogue throughout the country. She is one of the leaders of the National Youth Forum, a group of grassroots youth organizations working across political and ethnic lines to push for implementation of the reform agenda. She has been instrumental in the holding of youth town hall meetings as part of efforts to empower young people to participate in the democratic process. She involves the provincial administration and relevant officials in these activities and has earned recognition from the public and the government.

Tonight I also want to recognize Mrs. Honorine Kiplagat, who is a National Trustee of the Kenya Girl Guides Association, for a lifetime of dedication to helping Kenyan girls.  Honorine has been instrumental in taking the Kenya Girl Guides Association to greater heights. Her vision is to enable girls and young women in the movement to develop their full potential and become responsible citizens.  She has had a profound impact in helping girls acquire education and then play a positive role in the life of the country. As a guide and role model, she has used her leadership and organization skills to fund raise and spearhead activities geared towards helping the needy, and institutions such as the Starehe Girls Center.  She is a founding member of the school, and also helped establish the Kibera Girls Rehabilitation Center.

Unsung Heroes

I want to recognize from among the many distinguished women present tonight, three unsung heroes.  They too are an inspiration.

Sister Josephine Warau at Our Lady of Peace School works tirelessly to make the school a center of excellence.  She also works to link needy children to sponsors and, in so doing, changes lives for the better.

Sister Margaret Maitha, who is the Founder of Kenya Charities Finance supports 43,130 people, including children and youth from disadvantaged families, orphans, people living with HIV and Aids, and elderly people who care for orphans and vulnerable children.  She has walked quite a road to set up Kenya Charities Finance to accomplish this feat.

Ms. Bright Oywaya is the Director of the Association for Safe International Road Travel Kenya.

A banker by profession, she found her calling through a horrific road crash.  Inn 1997 she was traveling in a Toyota Corolla heading to Malindi.  A terrible accident injured her spinal cord.  After the crash she resigned from the bank to take counseling courses. She is now a professional counselor at the national spinal injury hospital where she has been counseling road crash victims since 2004.

Ms. Rahma Abdullahi recently graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry, First Class Honors.  From standard one to three she learned under a tree.  She managed to go to boarding school in Kitui for her secondary school education.  She had access to books and electricity and could study at night.  She joined Kenyatta University and managed to graduate top of her class!

Ms. Pamela Akello and Margaret Lessuda are District Education Officers in Nyanza. Pamela is the District Education Officer in Migori, an area known for child labour, violence against women, and forced marriages.  She mentors girls and improves their performance in national examinations through the Girls’ Mentoring Program. Mrs. Lesuuda formed a committee to ensure that pregnant school drop-outs continue their education.

Irene Mureithi is Executive Director of the Child Welfare Society of Kenya. Irene is a widow who has dedicated her life to the service of children.   She joined the organization in October 2002 when it was on the verge of collapse.  The staff was demoralized, with one year salary arrears. She went for eight months without pay, and played a decisive role in revitalizing the organization. Had she listened to her detractors, thousands of children today would have sunk into destitution.

Jane Wathome, the founder of Beacon of Hope, an organization which receives support through USAID, has made a difference in the lives of many Kenyans affected by HIV. BOH works with the community to support orphans and vulnerable children, provides voluntary counseling and testing, and home based care for people living with HIV/AIDS.

Finally, and importantly, I want to recognize Catherine Nyambala, who is the manager of Linksoft Centre of Excellence.  She has been closen to participate in the very prestigious Global Women's Mentoring Partnership Selection run by Fortune 500 and the State Department.  She will later share with you an inspirational message.

U.S. Support

The United States will continue to support the women of Kenya in your efforts to bring about fundamental change and to promote gender equity.  I want to lay out just some of what we are doing.

To help Kenyans further democracy and good governance, USAID is supporting 67 civil society organizations working to improve policy and increase the participation and effectiveness of women. Results so far include:

• improved skills in advocacy and for working with parliament, as evident in the passage of the Sexual Offenses Act;
• incorporating women’s rights into both the National Land Policy and Vision 2030; 
• a common women’s agenda for the draft Constitution;
• public outreach on the effects of gender-based violence; and
• forging grassroots networks of women for national reconciliation and peace.

We are also helping to increase the proportion of women legislators and raise representation of women within political parties. Already six political parties are implementing their plans to remove barriers to women’s participation.

Since gender-based violence, or GBV, affects girls and women at every level of society, the Women’s Justice and Empowerment Initiative is working with Kenyan authorities to make it possible for women to receive justice when cases of sexual violence are brought before magistrates.  This program has trained over 750 professionals in GBV and women’s rights. Crime scene investigators are now more adept in investigating GBV.  Nurses and doctors have learned to do forensic examinations for sexual assault.

I am pleased to announce the launching of a new GBV program in Kibera under WJEI. We will be working with local organizations to raise awareness of GBV, prevent it, and strengthen support for victims in Kibera.  

On the health front, our PEPFAR program has increased support to Kenyan women and girls, since HIV still afflicts more Kenyan women than men, both directly and indirectly.

Two-thirds of those receiving PEPFAR-supported anti-retroviral therapy in Kenya are women.  Nearly a million pregnant women have received counseling and testing for prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV. More than 60,000 of those who tested positive have received a complete course of anti-retrovirals to help protect their babies from infection.  As a direct result of PEPFAR, almost 100 percent coverage of all mother-to-child transmission of HIV has been achieved.

In agriculture, USAID programs help women access finance, business services, better farm inputs and improved farming practices.  In 2009, for example, women-headed households represented over half of the 608,000 rural households that benefited directly from USAID-supported programs for maize, dairy, horticulture, rural finance, and pastoral development.  And women comprised 37% of the 50,000 borrowers that benefitted from USAID rural finance program. The value of credit disbursed through this program rose from $14 million in 2008 to $38 million in 2009.

Much of the finance newly available for small-scale farmers comes from K-Rep—a USAID--supported bank providing small loans to disadvantaged communities. Three-quarters of K-Rep’s borrowers are women.

Not surprisingly, women are on the frontlines of conserving Kenya’s resources and rejuvenating its degraded landscapes—witness Nobel Prize Laureate Wangari Maathai and the Green Belt Movement.  USG assistance fosters programs that increase women’s voice and skill in natural resource planning, decision making and management—and awareness among farmers’ and ranchers’ groups of the importance of granting women equal membership rights.

In addition, USAID supported the process leading to Cabinet’s approval of the Land Policy in June 2009.  The Policy promotes progress toward gender equity in land ownership and with USAID’s facilitation, the Ministry of Lands is now taking its first steps to recognize the rights of both women and marginalized indigenous communities to property in their ancestral homes on the North Coast.

Education is of course vital to improve the lives of women.  We support girls’ education through the Ambassador’s Scholarship Program, which provides scholarships to 3,000 female primary and secondary school students.  Also, in support of Girls’ Education in Kenya, USAID is assisting the Ministry of Education to incorporate policies and laws that support gender equity in education. This program supported the publication and dissemination of the Gender Education Policy document that was developed in collaboration with the Forum for African Women Educationists.

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) has rightfully been outlawed in Kenya, but it remains a scourge in many parts of the country.  In support of the implementation of the anti-FGM legislation, we have partnered with Kenyans to mainstream anti-gender-based violence activities in the healthcare system.  Recently, on the International Day for Zero Tolerance Against FGM, I attended an impressive anti-FGM walk in Kilgoris organized by Ruth Konchellah of Cherish Others.  By participating in this event, the Minister of Gender and Children’s Affairs and the Minister of Youth and Sports highlighted the government’s commitment to eradicate FGM.

I invite your comments, insights and advice on all aspects of our efforts for women in Kenya.

I cannot think of a better way to conclude these remarks than by quoting the renowned Kenyan author Margaret Ogola, who wrote so eloquently “Mamangu alinipa busara na maisha ya mamake pamoja na nyanyake.  Nguvu na msaada ambazo zinapatikana katika jamii ya Waafrika ni muhimu zaidi kwa kuwa ni sehemu ya utamaduni wetu na zinapaswa kuhifadhiwa na kulelewa kwa vyovyote vile.”   (“My mother handed down to me the wisdom and lives of her own mother and grandmother. This strength and support that is found in the African family is the most important part of our culture, and should be preserved and nurtured at all costs.")

Please take advantage of tonight’s well-deserved opportunity to celebrate your many accomplishments. Thank you all for coming. I wish you all continued success as you work to ensure a brighter future for Kenya and Kenyan women. I assure you that the United States will stand by your side as you work to bring about fundamental change.  The increasing activism of women and the tremendous energy and talent of all the women assembled here give me hope for the future of Kenya.

Asanteni Sana